While Bowdoin students spent the bulk of January interning, working, and more likely, sleeping in, students at hundreds of colleges across the country, including nearby Middlebury and Colby Colleges, were already back to the books, thanks to an innovative system called "January Term."
January Term, also called "J-Term," "Jan Plan," or "Winter Term," is a month-long academic term during which each student either takes one course or engages in an independent study project or internship, on or off campus. J-Term is also well known for its increased social scene and ability to work around ski-lift times.
Due to J-Term, students and faculty have a slightly shortened winter break, returning to school in early January to begin their J-Term work. J-Term is followed by a short break before spring semester classes begin. Colby integrated J-Term into the traditional semester schedule in 1961, and since then, hundreds of colleges across the country have adopted the system.
Courses offered during J-Term tend to be unique and are meant to allow students to try out different department offerings while becoming absorbed in one specific subject area. This winter, Middlebury offered courses such as Sociology of the Internet, Orwellian Politics, and Sign Language. Last year, Colby students could earn EMT Training or engage in a U.S. Senate simulation course.
In most cases, J-Term courses are graded in the same manner as regular semester courses, and students can be placed on academic probation for failing a J-Term course, meaning students are encouraged to maintain their academic integrity despite the reduced course-load and shortened course length.
In addition to focused and independent study, J-Term offers students a breadth of leisure time and opportunities. Since the course-load is significantly smaller than that of a regular four-course semester, students have much more free time during which they can hit the slopes, the kegs, or whatever other college pleasures in which they wish to indulge.
Many Middlebury students have titled J-Term "Ski Term," as they enjoy the numerous skiing opportunities in the area, including Middlebury's own ski slope.
Many J-Term students have only positive things to say about the unique system. A Middlebury first-year said "I think J-Term is best suited for language studies, but I'm sure there are other enriching course offerings too. And we also get to ski and ice skate and enjoy the winter like we should."
But despite such bubbling enthusiasm, many Bowdoin students would not like to see such a system implemented here.
"I don't think Bowdoin should adopt J-Term," said Dana Borowitz '08. "Two weeks is not enough time to up the serotonin levels necessary for surviving the winter and spring."
Peter Hudson '08 agreed that such a system would not be ideal for Bowdoin. "I would be able to do different, unconventional things, but there would be an excessive amount of partying, and I probably wouldn't learn much."
Others are slightly more optimistic about J-Term.
"I feel that a J-Term would give many people, especially science students, a chance to either catch up or get ahead on the courses they need for their majors," said Pei Huang '08.
First-year Lauren Duerksen shares Huang's sentiments. "I think J-Term sounds like something that Bowdoin students would like," she said.
Some students think that the basic idea of J-Term is appealing, but that perhaps some changes could be made in order to make it more engaging. Jon Ragins '08 proposed that "students have the option to take a J-Term course for two out of the four years that they are here, so that students can test it out and see if they like it."
Nearby Bates College did its own tinkering with the J-Term idea, creating a 4-4-1 schedule which includes a short term in May instead of in January. Bates calls it "Short Term."
"Bates' system is extremely different and really makes Bates unique from other schools," said Bates student Marsha Larned '07.
"Bates students work incredibly hard all year. Fall semester is followed by a cold and rigorous winter. Then, just when we can't possibly stand all the work and cold weather anymore, we are rewarded with a month of pleasant temperatures and very minimal amounts of work," Larned said.
"The whole point of Short Term is to take something you're interested in and to relax. Students enjoy being at school with friends, in warm weather, without the pressures and frost of the regular school year. It's different from the 4-1-4 because we know we don't have to go back to the intense work when the term is over," said Larned.
Larned plans on using her Short Term to complete studies in Morocco, one of the many interesting opportunities posed by the Bates system. Some Bates students begin internships during their Short Term and continue the internships through the summer.
The grades given out during Short Term at Bates are not factored into students' GPAs, but students are still expected to attend all classes and complete assigned work.
Bowdoin faculty members are uncertain about the benefits of adopting such a program at Bowdoin. Dean of Student Affairs Craig Bradley claimed that the administration has not had a serious discussion about such a change to the academic calendar for many years. "Faculty members count on having the time in January to delve into their research," he said.
Mary Hunter, chair of Bowdoin's Music Department, taught at Bates for 18 years. After experiencing Bates' Short Term system as a professor, she sides with Bradley.
"Having a Short Term results in a very short winter break," said Hunter. "There is not enough time to finish grading from the fall semester, to get classes ready for the next term, and to do some of your own scholastic and leisurely pursuits."
Nevertheless, Hunter feels that there are some benefits of the Short Term or J-Term system. "In the music department, you can do studio activities, rehearse every day, and put on some really good performances. I think a chamber music program during 'Jan Plan' would be a lot of fun and would produce really good performances," said Hunter.
Whether a J-Term would be appropriate only for certain departments such as music is open to debate. Students who have experienced Jan Plan or Short Term seem to have only good things to say about the systems, while professors and administrators have mixed feelings.
Perhaps as Bowdoin continues experimenting with and changing the traditional liberal arts curriculum, there will be opportunities for Bowdoin students and faculty alike to test the waters and decide for themselves whether Jan Plan, or some modification, would be a worthy pursuit.